
FIFTY 

CHRISTMAS POEMS 
FOR CHILDREN 

AN ANTHOLOGY SELECTED BY 
jy* FLORENCE B. HYETT U8F 

















































































I 


FIFTY CHRISTMAS POEMS 
me FOR CHILDREN 


FIFTY CHRISTMAS 
POEMS FOR 
CHILDREN 


AN ANTHOLOGY SELECTED BY 

■R FLORENCE B. HYETT H 

*( 


Why do the hells of Christmas ring? 
Why do little children sing? 

Eugene Field 



-■» > o * 

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 

NEW YORK tl It MCMXXIII 




PMGito 

Zl(K 

C0^>V| tl 


COPYRIGHT, 1923, BY 

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 


M • 

« 


PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OT AMERICA 

© Cl A 7 6 0 6 5 5 , ' 

OCT 31 *23 < 



-Vvt. -y 


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

The Compiler expresses her thanks to Authors 
and Publishers for the use of poems in this 
volume and acknowledges her indebtedness. 

The woodcut on the Cover of this book is re¬ 
produced by kind permission of the artist, Mr. 
C. T. Nightingale. 



INDEX OF AUTHORS AND BIBLIOGRAPHY 


Anonymous 

Old Carol 


• ' • 

PAGE 

I I 

Shepherd’s Song .. 

> 

• • • 

19 

The Cherry-Tree Carol 


• * 

20 

The Holly and the Ivy . ^ 


' • • 

41 

The Three Ships . . u i>; . 


• • 

60 

When Christ Was Born L . 


• • 

47 

Yule-Tide Fires 


• • 


Bain, C. 

In the Night .. 


• ! • 

30 

Belloc, Hilaire 

The Birds . . r # 

»• 

• 1 ft 

23 

Noel . 


• * • 

62 

Blake, William 

A Cradle Song . . 


* • • 

22 

The Lamb . . . 


• • 

14 

Canton, William 

Carol j» . r» t* i. « 


• m ' 

18 

Chesterton, G. K. 

A Christmas Carol 


• im 1 

37 

Cole, Charlotte Druitt 

Christmas Eve 

i • 


24 

Crashaw, Richard 

Verses from The Shepherd’s Hymn 

In. 

• t • 

65 

De La Mare, Walter 

Before Dawn . 


• • 

43 


Field, Eugene From The Complete Poems of 
Eugene Field (Copyright, 1910, by Julia S. 
Field. Published by Charles Scribner’s Sons) 

Song.16 

Star of the East .49 

7 





Farjeon, Eleanor 

‘ Six Green Singers.. 5 2 

Gales, R. L. 

Three Christmas Songs.26 


I. The Guests 

II. Cockadoodledoo 

III. A Childermas Rhyme 

Waiting for the Kings.34 

In Praesepio.46 

Hardy, Thomas 

The Oxen. -59 

Herrick, Robert 

A Christmas Carol.58 

An Ode of the Birth of Our Saviour .. . .57 

To His Saviour, A Child; A Present from a 

Child.56 

King, Edith 

The Holly.17 

Luther, Martin 

Cradle Hymn . . ... . . .28 

Macdonald, George 

A Christmas Prayer -.25 

Christmas Day and Every Day . . . 13 

The Christmas Child.14 

That Holy King ... .. . . . . .54 

Meynell, Alice 

Unto Us a Son Is Given.64 

Middleton, Richard 

The Carol of the Poor Children . . . . 48 

Milton, John 


From the “Hymn on the Morning of Christ’s Na¬ 
tivity” .64 


8 




Nightingale, M. 

Mary Had a Little Lamb . 

The Waits. 

Rossetti, Christina 
A Christmas Carol 
Southwell, Robert 

Behold a Silly Tender Babe . 

Tabb, John Banister 

The Lamb-Child .... 
Tennyson, Alfred From In Memoriam 

The Bells. 

Thompson, Francis 
Ex Ore Infantium 
Tynan, Katharine 

A Song of Christmas 
A Song of the Season . 

Bethlehem 

Watts, Isaac 

A Cradle Hymn .... 
Young, E. Hilton 
Christmas . 


32 
44 

50 

36 

12 

68 

38 

40 

40 

33 
42 

55 


9 










































• A Hi 













































. 

* 




























OLD CAROL 


E came all so still 
Where His mother was, 
As dew in April 
That falleth on the grass. 

He came all so still 
To His mother’s bower, 

As dew in April 

That falleth on the flower. 

He came all so still 
Where His mother lay, 

As dew in April 
That falleth on the spray. 

Mother and maiden 
Was never none but she; 

Well may such a lady 
God’s mother be. 



Anonymous 




THE LAMB CHILD 



HEN Christ the Babe was born, 
Full many a little lamb 
Upon the wintry hills forlorn 
Was nestled near its dam: 


And, waking or asleep, 

Upon His Mother’s breast, 

For love of her, each mother-sheep 
And baby-lamb He blessed. 

John Banister Tabb 


j 


12 



CHRISTMAS DAY AND EVERY DAY 


TAR high 
Baby low: 

’Twixt the two 
Wise men go; 
baby, 

Grasp the star— 

Heirs of all things 
Near and far! 

George Macdonald 



Find the 


13 



THE CHRISTMAS CHILD 


ITTLE one, who straight hast come 
Down the heavenly stair, 

Tell us all about your home, 

And the father there.” 

“He is such a one as I 
Like as like can be. 

Do his will, and, by and by, 

Home and him you’ll see.” 



George Macdonald 



THE LAMB 


ITTLE lamb, who made thee? 
Dost thou know who made thee, 
Gave thee life, and bade thee feed 
By the stream and o’er the mead; 
Gave thee clothing of delight, 

Softest clothing, woolly, bright; 

Gave thee such a tender voice, 

Making all the vales rejoice? 

Little lamb, who made thee? 

Dost thou know who made thee? 

i 

Little lamb, I’ll tell thee; 

Little lamb, I’ll tell thee; 

He is called by thy name, 

For He calls Himself a lamb; 

He is meek and He is mild, 

He became a little child. 

I a child and thou a lamb, 

We are called by His name. 

Little lamb, God bless thee! 

Little lamb, God bless thee! 



William Blake 


15 



SONG 


HY do the bells of Christmas ring? 
Why do little children sing? 

Once a lovely shining star, 

Seen by shepherds from afar, 

Gently moved until its light 
Made a manger’s cradle bright. 



There a darling baby lay, 

Pillowed soft upon the hay; 

And its mother sung and smiled: 

“This is Christ, the holy Child!” 

Therefore bells for Christmas ring, 

Therefore little children sing. 

n 

• Eugene Field 

JUL & * G, ^ d 


16 



THE HOLLY 


OW happy the holly-tree looks, and how 
strong, 

Where he stands like a sentinel all the year 
long. 

Neither dry summer heat nor cold winter hail 
Can make that gay warrior tremble or quail. 

He has beamed all the year, but bright scarlet he’ll 
glow 

When the ground glitters white with the fresh fallen 
snow. 

Edith King 





17 





CAROL 



HEN the herds were watching 
In the midnight chill, 

Came a spotless lambkin 
From the heavenly hill. 


Snow was on the mountains, 
And the wind was cold, 

When from God’s own garden 
Dropped a rose of gold. 

When ’twas bitter winter, 
Houseless and forlorn 
In a star-lit stable 
Christ the Babe was born. 


Welcome, heavenly lambkin, 

Welcome, golden rose; 

Alleluia, Baby 

In the swaddling clothes! 

William Canton 


i 8 



SHEPHERD’S SONG 


S I rode out this enderes’ night, 

Of three jolly shepherds I saw a sight 
And all about their fold a star shone bright; 
They sang, Terli, terlow; 

So merrily the shepherds their pipes can blow. 

Down from heaven, from heaven so high, 

Of angels there came a great company. 

With mirth, and joy, and great solemnity 
They sang, Terli, terlow; 

So merrily the shepherds their pipes can blow. 

Old Song 



19 


VERSES FROM 

“THE CHERRY-TREE CAROL 


S Joseph was a walking 
He heard an angel sing: 
“This night shall be born 
Our heavenly king. 

“He neither shall be born 
In housen nor in hall, 

Nor in the place of Paradise, 

But in an ox’s stall. 

“He neither shall be clothed 
In purple nor in pall, 

But all in fair linen, 

As were babies all. 

“He neither shall be rocked 
In silver nor in gold, 

But in a wooden cradle, 

That rocks on the mould. 

“He neither shall be christened 
In white wine nor red, 

But with fair spring water, 

With which we were christened.” 

Then Mary took her young son, 

And set him on her knee: 

“I pray thee now, dear child, 

Tell how this world shall be.” 






“O I shall be as dead, mother, 

As the stones in the wall; 

O the stones in the street, mother, 
Shall mourn for me all. 

“And upon a Wednesday 
My vow I will make, 

And upon Good Friday 
My death I will take. 

“Upon Easter-day, mother, 

My rising shall be; 

O the sun and the moon 
Shall uprise with me. 

“The people shall rejoice, 

And the birds they shall sing, 

To see the uprising 
Of the heavenly king.” 


Traditional 


21 


A CRADLE SONG 


WEET dreams, form a shade 
O’er my lovely infant’s head! 
Sweet dreams of pleasant streams 
By happy, silent, moony beams! 

Sweet sleep, with soft down 
Weave thy brows an infant crown! 

Sweet sleep, angel mild, 

Hover o’er my happy child! 



Sleep, sleep, happy child! 

All creation slept and smiled. 

Sleep, sleep, happy sleep, 

While o’er thee doth mother weep. 

Sweet babe, in thy face 
Holy image I can trace; 

Sweet babe, once like thee 
Thy Maker lay, and wept for me: 

Wept for me, for thee, for all, 

When He was an infant small. 

Thou His image ever see, 

Heavenly face that smiles on thee! 

Smiles on thee, on me, on all, 

Who became an infant small; 

Infant smiles are His own smiles: 

Heaven and earth to peace beguiles. 

William Blake 


22 


THE BIRDS 


HEN Jesus Christ was four years old, 
The angels brought Him toys of gold, 
Which no man ever had bought or sold. 

with these He would not play, 

He made Him small fowl out of clay, 

And blessed them till they flew away: 

Tu Creasti Domine. 

Jesus Christ, Thou child so wise, 

Bless mine hands and fill mine eyes, 

And bring my soul to Paradise. 



And yet 


Hilaire Belloc 


23 




CHRISTMAS EVE 



N Christmas Eve the little stars 
Sparkle and glisten with delight, 
Like strings of glitt’ring diamonds, 
Across the darkness of the night. 


On Christmas Eve the little stars 
Dance in their places in the sky; 
Ah! I would go and trip with them 
If I could only climb as high. 


On Christmas Eve the little stars 
Sing merry carols all night long; 

But O! I am so far away 
I cannot even hear their song. 

On Christmas Eve the little stars 
Sparkle, and dance, and sing till dawn; 
And I am singing too, because 
To-morrow will be Chirstmas Morn. 


Charlotte Druitt Cole 


t 


24 




A CHRISTMAS PRAYER 


OVING looks the large-eyed cow, 
Loving stares the long-eared ass 
At Heaven’s glory in the grass! 
Child, with added human birth 
Come to bring the child of earth 
Glad repentance, tearful mirth, 

And a seat beside the hearth 
At the Father’s knee— 

Make us peaceful as thy cow; 

Make us patient as thine ass; 

Make us quiet as thou art now; 

Make us strong as thou wilt be. 

Make us always know and see 
We are his, as well as thou. 

George Macdonald 





25 



THREE CHRISTMAS SONGS 


I. THE GUESTS 



HY is there such a dancing din 
About the stable of the inn? 

“An old man, winter white, is here 
A wayfarer he doth appear.” 


“If this be all, why is the night 
Lit up with this unearthly light?” 
“A maid, the fairest maid, is here, 
Some great Lady she doth appear.” 


“But even so, why do there fly 
Such flocks of Angels from the sky?” 

“A Babe, a most sweet flower, is here, 

A Child from Heaven He doth appear.” 


II. COCKADOODLEDOO! 

OCKADOODLEDOO! 

Our Lady’s lost her shoe, 

St. Joseph’s lost his lantern, 
What will they do? 

The Child will be both Shoes and Staff 
And a Lantern too. 

In the dark night He’ll be their Light. 
And their Guide so true 
Cockadoodledoo! 







They that slept for sorrow 
Wake on a glad morrow, 

Their goal won, 

Their travel done, 

Their trouble thro’—• 

How cunning is His little laugh 
His eyes how blue! 

Cockadoodledoo! 

The sun is high in Egypt’s sky, 
Cockadoodledoo! 

III. A CHILDERMAS RHYME 

i 

ABES in the wood 
Babes in the tower, 

Babes killed at Childermas 
In an evil hour, 

Babe safe in Egypt 
From the tyrant’s power, 

Wicked uncles, wicked kings, 

Robbers counting chains and rings, 
Wicked kings who killed for greed, 

A good thief who stole for need, 

Herod gone and Crookback sped, 

The old villainous uncle dead, 

When the Babe is crowned a King 
That good thief will find his meed 
In a green place where robins sing, 
Where the holy babes and meek 
In the wood play hide-and-seek. 

R. L. Gales 

27 





CRADLE HYMN 


WAY in a manger, no crib for a bed, 

CjThe little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet 
head. 

The stars in the bright sky looked down where 
He lay— 

The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. 



The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, 

But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes. 

I love Thee, Lord Jesus! look down from the sky, 
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh. 

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay 
Close by me for ever and love me, I pray; 

Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, 

And fit us for Heaven, to live with Thee there. 


Martin Luther 


28 





A SONG FOR THE SEASON 


HE Kings to the Stable 
They brought sweet spice, 

The gold and the silver, 

And jewels of price. 

But the Dove by the manger 
She would not cease 
Mourning so softly: 

Bring Him Peace; bring Him Peace! 

The Kings from the Orient 
Brought nard and clove. 

The Dove went mourning: 

Bring Him Love; Bring Him Love. 

What would content Him 
In silver and gold,— 

A new-born Baby 
But one hour old? 

Not myrrh shall please Him 
Nor the ambergris, 

What hath sweet savour 
Of His mother’s kiss? 

There is clash of battle, 

And men hate and slay: 

From the noise and the tumult 
She hides Him away. 

But His sleep is fitful 
In His Mother’s breast, 

The Dove goes mourning: 

Give Him rest; give Him rest! 

Katharine Tynan 

29 





IN THE NIGHT 


HO is crying in the night 
At my nursery door? 

What’s that pretty shining light 
On the nursery floor?” 

Mary in her little bed 
Rises up to see. 

“Jesus, is it you?” she said: 

“Come and talk to me.” 

Nothing stirred: then out she creeps, 
Down the winding stair. 

All is dark; the household sleeps. 

Jesus isn’t there. 

Out into the winter night, 

Barefoot she must go, 

In her cotton night-gown white, 

Through the glistening snow. 

Through the garden fast she goes, 
Through the stable yard: 

Yes, the manger’s here, she knows. 

Oh! the door is barred! 

Then there came an Angel bright, 

Drew away the pin; 

All the place was full of light, 

As she flitted in. 



30 



There, within the stall, He lay! 

And the Ox and Ass 
Gently moved a little way 
Just to let her pass. 

And on little Mary, sweet 
Mother Mary smiled, 

As she kissed the hands and feet 
Of the Holy Child. 

Ah! He fades! He is not here! 

Whither has He flown? 

Wake, Miss Mary, wake my dear! 

Mary’s all alone. 

Nurse is standing by the bed, 

In the morning grey: 

“You’ve been dreaming, dear,” she said. 
“And it’s Christmas Day.” 

C. Bain 


31 


“MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB” 


HE Blessed Mary had a lamb, 

It too was white as snow, 

Far whiter than I ever am— 
Always and always so. 

She found it lying in the stall 
Wherefrom the oxen fed, 

With hay for bedding, hay for shawl, 

And hay beneath its head. 

She followed near it every day 
In all the paths it trod, 

She knew her lamb could never stray 
(it was the Lamb of God). 

And when the cloud of angels came 
And hid It from her sight, 

Its heart was near her all the same 
Because her own was white. 

So when she slept white lilies screened 
Her sleep from all alarms, 

Till from His Throne her white lamb leaned 
And waked her in His Arms. 



M. Nightingale 



BETHLEHEM 


HERE man was all too marred with sin, 
The ass, the ox were bidden in. 

Where angels were unmeet to come 
These humble entered Holydom. 

Their innocent eyes and full of awe 
Saw the fulfilment of the law. 

There in the stable with the beast 

The Christmas Child hath spread His feast. 

These gave their bed and eke their board 
To be a cradle for their Lord. 

Their honey-breath, their tears all mild, 

Warmed in the cold the new-born Child. 

These His adorers were before 

The Kings and Shepherds thronged the door. 

And where no angels knelt there kneeled 
The innocent creatures of the field. 

O simple ones, much honoured; 

He who oppresses you indeed 

Opp resses His kind hosts that lay 
Once in the stable on the hay. 

Katharine Tynan 



33 





WAITING FOR THE KINGS 


VER the frozen plain snow-white 
The three Kings will come tonight; 
We shall know by the kettle-drums 
Which way the procession comes. 

They have come from very far, 

Following fast behind a Star, 

In their shimmering robes of silk, 

Riding horses white as milk. 

They bring thro’ the starlit dark 
Gold once hid in Noe’s Ark; 

They bear over snow and ice 
Bags of musk and myrrh and spice. 

They have brought from the warm countree 
Cloves like nails from a blossoming tree, 
Flowers of a branch of a Tree that grew 
In Eden when the world was new. 

They have heard of a wondrous thing, 

That here is born a little King; 

They bring treasures of great worth 
To the Treasure of the earth. 

When we see the Kings ride past, 

Thro’ the silence white and vast, 

In the night will bloom, methinks, 

Velvet roses and striped pinks. 



34 


When we see them all aglow 
Riding over leagues of snow, 

In their robes of red and gold, 

We shall never feel the cold. 

We will print upon the gifts 

They have borne thro’ the snow-drifts, 

Thro’ the bitter weather wild, 

Kisses for the little Child. 


R. L. Gales 


BEHOLD A SILLY TENDER BABE 


EHOLD a silly tender Babe, 

In freezing winter night, 

In homely manger trembling lies 
Alas! a piteous sight. 

The inns are full, no man will yield 
This little Pilgrim bed; 

But forced He is with silly beasts 
In crib to shroud His head. 

Despise Him not for lying there, 

First what He is inquire; 

An orient pearl is often found 
In depth of dirty mire. 

Weigh not His crib, His wooden dish, 

Nor beasts that by Him feed; 

Weigh not His mother’s poor attire, 

Nor Joseph’s simple weed. 

This stable is a prince’s court, 

This crib His chair of state; 

The beasts are parcel of His pomp, 

The wooden dish His plate. 



With joy approach, O Christian Wight! 
Do homage to thy King; 

And highly praise this humble pomp 
Which He from heaven doth bring. 



Robert Southwell 




A CHRISTMAS CAROL 


HE Christ-child lay on Mary’s lap, 
His hair was like a light. 

(O weary, weary were the world, 
But here is all aright.) 

The Christ-child lay on Mary’s breast, 

His hair was like a star. 

(O stern and cunning are the Kings, 

But here the true hearts are.) 

The Christ-child lay on Mary’s heart, 

H is hair was like a fire. 

(O weary, weary is the world, 

But here the world’s desire.) 

The Christ-child stood at Mary’s knee, 

His hair was like a crown, 

And all the flowers looked up at Him 
And all the stars looked down. 



G. K. Chesterton 


37 




EX ORE INFANTIUM 


ITTLE Jesus, wast Thou shy 
Once, and just so small as I? 

And what did it feel like to be 
Out of Heaven, and just like me? 
Didst Thou sometimes think of there . 

And ask where all the angels were? 

I should think that I would cry 
For my house all made of sky; 

I would look about the air, 

And wonder where my angels were; 

And at waking ’twould distress me— 

Not an angel there to dress me! 

Hadst Thou ever any toys, 

Like us little girls and boys? 

And didst Thou play in Heaven with all 
The angels, that were not too tall, 

With stars for marbles? Did the things 
Play Can you see me? through their wings? 
And did Thy Mother let Thee spoil 
Thy robes, with playing on our soil? 

How nice to have them always new 
In Heaven, because ’twas quite clean blue. 



38 



Didst Thou kneel at night to pray, 

And didst Thou join Thy hands, this way? 

And did they tire sometimes, being young, 

And make the prayer seem very long? 

And dost Thou like it best, that we 
Should join our hands to pray to Thee? 

I used to think, before I knew, 

The prayer not said unless we do. 

And did Thy Mother at the night 
Kiss Thee, and fold the clothes in right? 

And didst Thou feel quite good in bed, 

Kiss’d, and sweet, and Thy prayers said? 

9 

Thou canst not have forgotten all 
That it feels like to be small: 

And Thou know’st I cannot pray 
To Thee in my father’s way— 

When Thou wast so little, say, 

Couldst Thou talk Thy Father’s way? — 

So, a little Child, come down 

And hear a child’s tongue like Thy own; 

Take me by the hand and walk, 

And listen to my baby-talk. 

To Thy Father show my prayer 
(He will look, Thou art so fair), 

And say: “O Father, I, thy Son, 

Bring the prayer of a little one.” 

And He will smile, that children’s tongue 
Has not changed since Thou wast young! 

Francis Thompson 


39 


A SONG OF CHRISTMAS 



HE Christmas moon shines clear and bright; 
There were poor travellers such a night 
Had neither fire nor candle-light. 


One plucked them stars out of the sky 
To show the road to travel by; 

So that the Ass go warily. 


She had all Heaven safe in her hold, 
Hidden within her mantle’s fold— 
All Heaven, and It was one hour old. 


Her hair under, over Him spread 
His spun-gold coverlet and His bed, 

Twined with His little golden head. 

She sang and rocked Him to-and-fro 
Such songs as little babies know, 

With Lullaby Sweet, and Lullalo. 

He had no need of moons and suns, 

Nor the gold-crested bird-legions, 

Singing their lauds and orisons. 

The Christmas moon shows a cold beam; 

He hath His Mother, she hath Him: 

Together they sleep, together dream. 

Katharine Tynan 


40 




THE HOLLY AND THE IVY 


HE holly and the ivy, 

Now are both well grown. 

Of all the trees that are in the wood 
The holly bears the crown. 

The holly bears a blossom 
As white as the lily flower, 

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ 
To be our sweet Saviour. 

The holly bears a berry 
As red as any blood, 

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ 
To do poor sinners good. 

The holly bears a prickle 
As sharp as any thorn, 

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ 
On Christmas Day in the morn. 

The holly bears a bark 
As bitter as any gall, 

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ 
For to redeem us all. 

The holly and the ivy 
Now are both well grown, 

Of all the trees that are in the wood 
The holly bears the crown. 

Traditional 



41 




A CRADLE HYMN 



! my dear, lie still and slumber, 
Holy angels guard thy bed! 

Heavenly blessings without number 
Gently falling on thy head. 


How much better thou’rt attended 
Than the Son of God could be, 
When from heaven He descended 
And became a child like thee! 

Soft and easy is thy cradle: 

Coarse and hard thy Saviour lay, 
When His birthplace was a stable 
And His softest bed was hay. 


See the kinder shepherds round Him, 

Telling wonders from the sky! 

Where they sought Him, there they found Him, 
With His Virgin Mother by. 

See the lovely babe adressing; 

Lovely infant, how He smiled! 

When He wept, the Mother’s blessing 
Soothed and hush’d the holy child. 

Lo, He slumbers in His manger, 

Where the horned oxen fed: 

Peace, my darling; here’s no danger, 

Here’s no ox anear thy bed. 


42 


Isaac Watts 





BEFORE DAWN 


IM-BERRIED is the mistletoe 
With globes of sheenless grey, 

The holly mid ten thousand thorns 
Smolders its fires away; 

And in the manger Jesu sleeps 
This Christmas Day. 

Bull unto bull with hollow throat 
Makes echo every hill, 

Cold sheep in pastures thick with snow 
The air with bleatings fill; 

While of His Mother’s heart this Babe 
Takes His sweet will. 

All flowers and butterflies lie hid, 

The blackbird and the thrush 
Pipe but a little as they flit 
Restless from bush to bush; 

Even to the robin Gabriel hath 
Cried softly, “Hush!” 

Now night is astir with burning stars 
In darkness of the snow; 

Burdened with frankincense and myrrh 
And gold the Strangers go 
Into a dusk where one dim lamp 
Burns faintly, Lo! 

No snowdrop yet its small head nods, 

In winds of winter drear; 

No lark at casement in the sky 
Sings matins shrill and clear; 

Yet in this frozen mirk the Dawn 

Breathes, Spring is here! WALTER DE LA MARE 

43 





THE WAITS 



HERE were sparkles on the window-pane 
and sparkles in the sky, 

The moon it sparkled like a star above the 
world so high, 

There was star-shine on the ceiling, there was star-shine 
on the bed, 

There was star-shine in my eyes, I think, and star-shine 
in my head. 

I clambered from my sleep, I did; I flung the window 
wide, 

I wanted all that waited in the Christmas Eve outside, 
I wanted for myself to hear the Christmas people sing, 
I wanted for myself to hear the Christmas joy-bells 
ring. 


And there outside were waiting three grey Shepherds 
in the snow, 

(I knew that they were Shepherds, for they all had 
crooks, you know,) 

And when they saw me waiting too they sang to me a 
song— 

The stars, they caught and whispered it the whole wide 
sky along. 

And then the Shepherds went their way and three black 
camels came, 

They stayed beneath the window there and waited just 
the same, 

And each black camel on his back had brought an 
Eastern King, 

And though each King was very great each had a song 
to sing. 


44 




They sang it as the Shepherds sang, a little low sweet 
song — 

The white stars caught and whispered it the whole wide 
sky along; 

And then the camels went their way, I watched them 
down the street, 

The snow lay white and soft and still beneath their 
silent feet. 

There was singing in the tree-tops, there was singing in 
the sky, 

The moon was singing to the clouds above the world so 
high, 

And all the stars were singing too and when I looked 
below, 

I saw a little, tiny Child was waiting in the snow. 

And first I watched him wait there—watched and only 
waved my hand, 

For though the song was in my heart I did not under¬ 
stand, 

Until at last it burst in words, because at last I knew, 

And then he looked at me and laughed and sang the 
star-song too. 

And right across the misty fields I heard the church 
bells ring, 

The star-song echoed far and wide for all the world to 
sing, 

But still the tiny Child stood there—the Child that once 
was born— 

We sang His birthday song—we did—upon His Christ¬ 
mas morn. 

M. Nightingale 
45 



IN PRJESEPIO 


N stable straw the Infant lay, 

Turned from the hostelry away, 

There was no room its doors within, 

For Him Who is the whole world’s Inn. 

Creation sang, no longer dumb, 

Because her great Desire was come; 

The sad earth in His joy had part, 

Who bore her sorrow in His Heart. 

The Angels danced, the Shepherds piped, 

Because earth’s tears away were wiped; 

The Ox and Ass adoring saw 
The Infant lying in the straw. 

R. L. Gales 



46 




WHEN CHRIST WAS BORN 



HEN Christ was born of Mary free, 

In Bethlehem in that fair citie, 

Angels sang there with mirth and glee, 
In Excelsis Gloria/ 


Herdsmen beheld these angels bright, 

To them appearing with great light, 

Who said, “God’s Son is born this night,” 
In Excelsis Gloria! 


This King is come to save mankind, 

As in Scripture truths we find, 

Therefore this song have we in mind, 

In Excelsis Gloria! 

Then, dear Lord, for Thy great grace, 

Grant us the bliss to see Thy face, 

That we may sing to Thy solace, 

In Excelsis Gloria! 

Traditional 


47 




THE CAROL OF THE POOR CHILDREN 


E are the poor children, come out to see the 
sights 

On this day of all days, on this night of 
nights, 

The stars in merry parties are dancing in the sky, 

A fine star, a new star, is shining on high! 

We are the poor children, our lips are frosty blue, 

We cannot sing our carol as well as rich folk do, 

Our bellies are so empty we have no singing voice, 

But this night of all nights good children must rejoice. 

We do rejoice, we do rejoice, as hard as we can try, 

A fine star, a new star is shining in the sky! 

And while we sing our carol, we think of the delight 
The happy kings and shepherds make in Bethlehem 
to-night. 

Are we naked, mother, and are we starving poor— 

Oh, see what gifts the kings have brought outside the 
stable door, 

Are we cold, mother, the ass will give his hay 
To make the manger warm and keep the cruel winds 
away. 

We are the poor children, but not so poor who sing 
Our carol with our voiceless hearts to greet the new¬ 
born king, 

On this night of all nights, when in the frosty sky 
A new star, a kind star, is shining on high! 

Richard Middleton 



48 





STAR OF THE EAST 


TAR of the East, that long ago 
Brought wise men on their way 
Where, angels singing to and fro, 
The Child of Bethlehem lay— 
Above that Syrian hill afar 
Thou shinest out to-night, O Star! 

Star of the East, the night were drear 
But for the tender grace 
That with thy glory comes to cheer 
Earth’s loneliest, darkest place; 

For by that charity we see 
Where there is hope for all and me. 

Star of the East! show us the way 
In wisdom undefiled 
To seek that manger out and lay 
Our gifts before the Child— 

To bring our hearts and offer them 
Unto our King in Bethlehem! 



Eugene Field 


49 



A CHRISTMAS CAROL 


EFORE the paling of the stars, 
Before the winter morn, 

Before the earliest cock-crow, 

Jesus Christ was born: 

Born in a stable, 

Cradled in a manger, 

In the world His Hands had made 
Born a stranger. 

Priest and King lay fast asleep 
In Jerusalem, 

Young and old lay fast asleep 
In crowded Bethlehem: 

Saint and angel, ox and ass, 

Kept a watch together 
Before the Christmas daybreak 
In the winter weather. 

Jesus on His mother’s breast 
In the stable cold, 

Spotless Lamb of God was He, 

Shepherd of the Fold: 

Let us kneel with Mary Maid, 

With Joseph bent and hoary, 

With saint and angel, ox and ass, 

To hail the King of Glory. 

Christina Rossetti 



50 



YULE-TIDE FIRES 


LEANSE with the burning log of oak 
The canker of thy care, 

Deck with the scarlet-berried bough 
The temple of the fair; 

Spread pure-white linen for a feast, 

Perchance some guest may share. 

Give forth thy gold and silver coins, 

For they were lent to thee; 

Put out to usury thy dross, 

One talent gaineth three. 

Perchance the hungered and the poor 
May pray to God for thee. 

Once a pale star rose in the East 
For watching herds to see, 

And weakness came to Bethlehem, 

And strength to Galilee. 

Perchance! if thou dost keep thy tryst 
A star may rise for thee. 



Anonymous 


51 



SIX GREEN SINGERS 


HE frost of the moon fell over my floor 
And six green singers stood at my door. 

“What do ye here that music make?” 
“Let us come in for Christ’s sweet Sake.” 

“Long have ye journeyed in coming here?” 

“Our Pilgrimage was the length of the year.” 

“Where do ye make for?” I asked of them. 

“Our Shrine is a Stable in Bethlehem.” 

“What will ye do as ye go along?” 

“Sing to the world an ever-green song.” 

“What will ye sing for the listening earth?” 

“One will sing of a brave-souled Mirth, 

“One of the Holiest Mystery, 

The Glory of glories shall one song be, 

“One of the Memory of things, 

One of the Child’s imaginings, 

“One of our songs is the fadeless Faith, 

And all are the Life more mighty than death.” 

“Ere ye be gone that music make, 

Give me an alms for Christ’s sweet Sake.” 

52 





“Six green branches we leave with you; 

See they be scattered your house-place through. 

“The staunch blithe Holly your board shall grace, 
Mistletoe bless your chimney place, 

“Laurel to crown your lighted hall, 

Over your bed let the Yew-bough fall, 

“Close by the cradle the Christmas Fir, 

For elfin dreams in its branches stir, 

“Last and loveliest, high and low, 

From ceil to floor let the Ivy go.” 

From each glad guest I received my gift 
And then the latch of my door did lift— 

“Green singers, God prosper the song ye make 
As ye sing to the world for Christ’s sweet Sake.” 

Eleanor Far jeon 


53 


THAT HOLY THING 


HEY all were looking for a king 
To slay their foes and lift them high: 
Thou cam’st, a little baby thing 
That made a woman cry. 

O Son of Man, to right my lot 
Naught but Thy presence can avail; 

Yet on the road Thy wheels are not, 

Nor on the sea Thy sail! 

My how or when Thou wilt not heed, 

But come down thine own secret stair, 

That Thou mayst answer all my need— 

Yea, every bygone prayer. 



George Macdonald 


54 




CHRISTMAS 


BOY was oorn at Bethlehem 
that knew the haunts of Galilee. 

He wandered on Mount Lebanon, 
and learned to love each forest tree. 

But I was born at Marlborough, 
and love the homely faces there; 
and for all other men besides 
’tis little love I have to spare. 

I should not mind to die for them, 
my own dear downs, my comrades true. 

But that great heart of Bethlehem, 
he died for men he never knew. 

And yet, I think, at Golgotha, 
as Jesus’ eyes were closed in death, 
they saw with love most passionate 
the village street at Nazareth. 



E. Hilton Young 


55 





TO HIS SAVIOUR, A CHILD; 
A PRESENT BY A CHILD 



]0 pretty child, and bear this flower 
Unto thy little Saviour; 

And tell Him, by that bud now blown, 
He is the Rose of Sharon known: 
When thou hast said so, stick it there 
Upon his bib, or stomacher: 

And tell Him, (for good handsell too) 

That thou hast bought a whistle new, 

Made of a clean straight oaten reed, 

To charm His cries, (at time of need:) 

Tell Him, for coral, thou hast none; 

But if thou hadst, He should have one; 

But poor thou art, and known to be 
Even as moneyless as He. 

Lastly, if thou canst win a kiss 
From those mellifluous lips of His; 

Then never take a second on 
To spoil the first impression. 


Robert Herrick 


56 



AN ODE TO THE BIRTH OF OUR 
SAVIOUR 


N numbers, and but these few, 

I sing Thy birth, O Jesu! 

Thou pretty baby, born here, 
With superabundant scorn here; 
Who for Thy princely port here, 

Hadst for Thy place 

Of birth a base 

Out-stable for Thy court here. 

Instead of neat enclosures 
Of interwoven osiers, 

Instead of fragrant posies 
Of daffodils and roses, 

Thy cradle, Kingly Stranger, 

As Gospel tells, 

Was nothing else 

But here a homely manger. 



The Jews they did disdain Thee, 

But we will entertain Thee, 

With glories to await here, 

Upon Thy princely state here; 

And more for love than pity, 

From year to year, 

We’ll make Thee, here, 

A free-born of our city. 

Robert Herrick 


57 





A CHRISTMAS CAROL 

HAT sweeter music can we bring 
Than a carol, for to sing 
The birth of this our heavenly King? 
Awake the voice; awake the string! 
Heart, ear, and eye, and everything! 


Why does the chilling winter’s morn 
Smile, like a field beset with corn? 

Or smell, like to a mead new-shorn, 
Thus, on the sudden? 

Come and see 

The cause, why things thus fragrant be. 
’Tis He is born, whose quickening birth 
Gives light and lustre, public mirth, 

To heaven, and the under-earth. 



The darling of the world is come, 

And fit it is we find a room 
To welcome Him. The nobler part 
Of all the house here, is the heart, 

Which we will give Him; and bequeath 
This holly, and this ivy wreath, 

To do Him honour; who’s our King, 

And Lord of all this revelling. 


Robert Herrick 


58 




THE OXEN 


HRISTMAS Eve, and twelve of the clock. 
“Now they are all on their knees,” 

An elder said as we sat in a flock 
By the embers in hearthside ease. 

We pictured the meek mild creatures where 
They dwelt in their strawy pen, 

Nor did it occur to one of us there 
To doubt they were kneeling then. 

So fair a fancy few would weave 
In these years! Yet, I feel, 

If some one said on Christmas Eve, 

“Come; see the oxen kneel 

“In the lonely barton by yonder coomb 
Our childhood used to know,” 

I should go with him in the gloom 
Hoping it might be so. 

Thomas Hardy 



59 




I SAW THREE SHIPS 



SAW three ships come sailing in, 

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; 
I saw three ships come sailing in 
On Christmas Day in the morning. 


And who was in those ships all three, 

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day? 
And who was in those ships all three, 

On Christmas Day in the morning? 

Our Saviour Christ and his ladye, 

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; 
Our Saviour Christ and his ladye, 

On Christmas Day in the morning. 

Pray whither sailed those ships all three, 
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day? 
Pray whither sailed those ships all three, 
On Christmas Day in the morning? 

O they sailed into Bethlehem, 

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; 
O they sailed into Bethlehem, 

On Christmas Day in the morning. 


And all the bells on Earth shall ring, 
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; 
And all the bells on Earth shall ring, 
On Christmas Day in the morning. 


60 






And all the angels in Heaven shall sing, 

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; 

And all the angels in Heaven shall sing, 

On Christmas Day in the morning. 

And all the souls on Earth shall sing, 

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; 

And all the souls on Earth shall sing, 

On Christmas Day in the morning. 

Old Carol 


61 


NOEL 


I 

N a winter’s night long time ago 
( T he bells ring loud and the bells ring low). 
When high howled wind, and down fell snow 
(Carillon, Carilla). 

Saint Joseph he and Nostre Dame, 

Riding on an ass, full weary came 
From Nazareth into Bethlehem. 

And the small child Jesus smile on you. 

II 

And Bethlehem inn they stood before 
(The bells ring less and the bells ring more ), 

The landlord bade them begone from his door 
(Carillon, Carilla). 

“Poor folk” (says he), “must lie where they may, 

For the Duke of Jewry comes this way, 

With all his train on Christmas Day.” 

And the small child Jesus smile on you. 

III 

Poor folk that may my carol hear 
(The bells ring single and the bells ring clear ), 

See! God’s one child had hardest cheer! 

(Carillon, Carilla). 

Men grown hard on a Christmas morn; 

The dumb beast by and a babe forlorn. 

It was very, very cold when our Lord was born. 

And the small child Jesus smile on you. 

6 2 




IV 


Now these were Jews as Jews must be 
(The bells ring merry and the bells ring free). 

But Christian men in a band are we 
(Carillon, Carilla). 

Empty we go, and ill be-dight, 

Singing Noel on a winter’s night. 

Give up to sup by the warm firelight, 

And the small child Jesus smile on you. 

Hilaire Belloc 


63 


UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN 


IVEN, not lent, 

And not withdrawn—once sent— 
This Infant of mankind, this One, 
Is still the little welcome Son. 


New every year, 

New-born and newly dear, 

He comes with tidings and a song, 

The ages long, the ages long. 

Even as the cold 

Keen winter grows not old, 

As childhood is so fresh, foreseen, 

And spring in the familiar green. 

Sudden as sweet 
Come the expected feet; 

All joy is young, and new all art, 

And He, too, whom we have by heart. 

Alice Meynell 



64 




VERSES FROM THE SHEPHERD’S PIYMN 


E saw Thee in Thy balmy nest, 

Young dawn of our eternal day; 

We saw Thine eyes break from the East 
And chase the trembling shades away: 
We saw Thee, and we blest the sight, 

We saw Thee by Thine own sweet light 

Poor world, said I, what wilt thou do 
To entertain this starry stranger? 

Is this the best thou canst bestow— 

A cold and not too cleanly manger? 

Contend, the powers of heaven and earth, 

To fit a bed for this huge birth. 

* . • 

I saw the curl’d drops, soft and slow, 

Come hovering o’er the place’s head, 

Off’ring their whitest sheets of snow. 

To furnish the fair infant’s bed. 

Forbear, said I, be not too bold; 

Your fleece is white, but ’tis too cold. 



To Thee, meek Majesty, soft King 
Of simple graces and sweet loves! 

Each of us his lamb will bring, 

Each his pair of silver doves! 

At last, in fire of Thy fair eyes, 

Ourselves become our own best sacrifice. 

Richard Crawshaw 

65 




VERSES FROM THE HYMN ON THE 
MORNING OF CHRIST’S NATIVITY 


UT peaceful was the night 
Wherein the Prince of light 
His reign of peace upon the earth began: 

The winds, with wonder whist, 

Smoothly the waters kist 
Whispering new joys to the mild ocean, 

Who now hath quite forgot to rave, 

While birds of calm sit brooding on the charmed wave. 



The shepherds on the lawn, 

Or ere the point of dawn, 

Sat simply chatting in a rustic row; 

Full little thought they than, 

That the mighty Pan 

Was kindly come to live with them below: 

Perhaps their loves, or else their sheep, 

Was all that did their silly thoughts so busy keep. 

When such music sweet 
Their hearts and ears did greet, 

As never was by mortal finger strook, 

Divinely-warbled voice 
Answering the stringed noise, 

As all their souls in blissful rapture took; 

The air such pleasure loth to lose, 

With thousand echoes still prolongs each heavenly close. 


66 


* < 





Ring out, ye crystal spheres, 

Once bless our human ears, 

(If ye have power to touch our senses so) 

And let your silver chime 
Move in melodious time; 

And let the bass of Heaven’s deep organ blow, 

And with your ninefold harmony 

Make up full consort to the angelic symphony. 

For if such holy song 
Enwrap our fancy long, 

Time will run back and fetch the age of gold, 

And speckled Vanity 
Will sicken soon and die, 

And leprous Sin will melt from earthly mould, 

And Hell itself will pass away, 

And leave her dolorous mansions to the peering day. 


But see! the Virgin blest, 

Hath laid her Babe to rest, 

Time is our tedious song should here have ending, 
Heaven’s youngest teemed star, 

Hath fix’d her polish’d car, 

Her sleeping Lord with hand-maid lamp attending: 
And all about the courtly stable, 

Bright-harness’d Angels sit in order serviceable. 

John Milton 


67 



FROM “IN MEMORIAM” 


ING out, wild bells, to the wild sky, 
The flying cloud, the frosty light: 

The year is dying in the night; 

Ring out, wild bells, and let him die. 

Ring out the old, ring in the new, 

Ring, happy bells, across the snow: 

The year is going, let him go; 

Ring out the false, ring in the true. 

Ring out the grief that saps the mind, 

For those that here we see no more; 

Ring out the feud of rich and poor, 

Ring in redress to all mankind. 

• «••••• 

Ring out the want, the care, the sin, 

The faithless coldness of the times; 

Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes, 

But ring in the fuller minstrel in. 

• •••••• 

Ring out old shapes of foul disease; 

Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; 

Ring out the thousand wars of old, 

Ring in the thousand years of peace. 

Ring in the valiant man and free, 

The larger heart, the kindlier hand * 

Ring out the darkness of the land, 

Ring in the Christ that is to be. 

Alfred Tennyson 



68 


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